Cooper's Oak Winery, of Higbee, will be providing the featured beverages up for sample.

"This will be the third or fourth one we've done," owner Felicia Buckner told the MMI on Wednesday (Sept. 4), of the tasting. "We usually do one in the fall and one in the spring."

The event got started through a mutual connection with a member of the Cooper's Oak Winery staff, she said.

"One of the guys over there — Charlie Hargis — was one of my classmates [in Moberly]," she said. "I make pizzas for him every week. They're pretty open to do whatever we need."

The event is free to the public, and will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., leading into the business' karaoke night, which lasts from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight.

"They'll have five or six different wines [available for tasting Friday]," Buckner said. "These are all wines that are produced right here in Higbee, and there will be bottles of wine for purchase."

Turnout to the event has been hovering in the "not bad" range during the last few, Buckner said, but "not as good as I would hope." She would like to change that come Friday night.

Buckner said that she anticipates having appetizers (including, but not necessarily limited to) her chicken wings available for those who attend. The event will also coincide with the Spartan Burger Special day at the restaurant. Such features a deal promoting pride in the local high school football team through a discount-priced burger combo meal during gameday, marketed as being "for a Warrior Appetite."

"The main thing that I want to push is that it's local," Buckner said, of the event. "I'm a Spartan. (Husband) Duane's a Spartan. And Charlie was a Spartan."